Frost Dates for Albany, NY 12208
Albany has 12 ZIP codes. The Albany, NY frost page lists all of them with their dates.
Last spring frost May 8 · First fall frost October 2 · 147 frost-free days · USDA Zone 6a
ZIP 12208 has about 23,300 people, one of 12 ZIP codes in Albany.
Moderate season: 147 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 22–May 24 (32 days). Fall frost risk spans September 16–October 14 (28 days).
Frost probability for 12208
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 24 | May 8 | April 22 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 16 | October 2 | October 14 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at GRAFTON (31.5 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 147-day season in Albany
In Albany (147 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Apr 3 | May 22–May 29 | 105 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 105 available after May 22. | Jun 2 |
| Pepper | Mar 27 | May 22–May 29 | 105 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 105 available after May 22. | Jun 7 |
| Lettuce | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 17 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 11 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 17–Apr 24 | 189 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 189 available after Apr 17. | Jul 31 |
| Cucumber | Apr 17 | May 22–May 29 | 119 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 119 available after May 22. | Jul 6 |
| Beans | — | May 15–May 29 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 15. | Jul 13 |
| Peas | — | Mar 13–May 22 | 210 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 210 available after Mar 13. | Jul 22 |
| Zucchini | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 22. | Jul 11 |
| Onion | Feb 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 182 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 10. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 13–May 1 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 30 |
| Kale | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 15 |
| Broccoli | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 182 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 182 available after Apr 10. | Jul 7 |
| Cabbage | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 196 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 10. | Jul 31 |
| Radish | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 31; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 31 |
| Beets | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 1 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 24–May 1 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after Apr 24. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 2 | 252 | overwinter: Plant Oct 2 to Oct 23; harvest the following summer. | Oct 23 |
| Strawberry | — | Apr 3–May 29 | 203 | perennial: A perennial: plant Apr 3; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 119 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 119 available after May 15. | Jun 14 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 24 | May 22–May 22 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 22. | — |
| Cauliflower | Mar 27 | May 1–May 15 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after May 1. | Jul 12 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 13 | Apr 24–Apr 24 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 1 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 224 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 30; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 30 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 13 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 196 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 196 available after Apr 10. | Jul 1 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 112 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 112 available after May 22. | — |
| Eggplant | Mar 20 | May 22–May 29 | 105 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 105 available after May 22. | Jun 12 |
| Okra | Apr 10 | May 15–May 22 | 126 | two-plantings: Plant May 15 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 18. | Jul 11 |
| Basil | Apr 3 | May 29–May 29 | 112 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 112 available after May 29. | Jul 6 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 10–May 1 | 182 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 6 |
| Parsley | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 147 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 147 available after May 15. | Jul 17 |
| Celery | Feb 27 | May 15–May 29 | 147 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 147 available after May 15. | May 28 |
| Scallions | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 10 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 20; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 20 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 27–Apr 10 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 27 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 15 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 10 | May 1–May 8 | 161 | two-plantings: Plant May 1 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 11 |
| Collards | Feb 27 | Apr 10–Apr 24 | 196 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 23. | Aug 10 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 22. | May 28 |
| Chives | Feb 13 | May 15–May 22 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 15. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 13–Jun 5 | 210 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 13 and again by Aug 1; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 1 |
| Oregano | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 161 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 161 available after May 15. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 13 | May 15–May 22 | 147 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 147 available after May 15. | — |
| Sage | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 161 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 161 available after May 15. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 27 | May 15–May 22 | 161 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 161 available after May 15. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 27 | Apr 24–May 8 | 168 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 24 and again by Aug 6; both mature before Oct 9. | Aug 6 |
| Cosmos | Apr 10 | May 8–May 22 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 8. | Jul 6 |
| Lavender | Feb 13 | May 8–May 22 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 8. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 27 | May 8–May 15 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 16; both mature before Sep 18. | Jul 16 |
| Melons | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 105 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 105 available after May 22. | May 28 |
| Mint | — | May 8–May 22 | 168 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 168 available after May 8. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 10 | May 8–May 15 | 133 | two-plantings: Plant May 8 and again by Jul 11; both mature before Sep 18. | Jul 11 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 15–May 29 | 126 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 126 available after May 15. | Jul 1 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 112 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 112 available after May 22. | May 30 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 8–May 22 | 133 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 133 available after May 8. | Jun 26 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 13 | May 15–May 22 | 112 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 112 available after May 15. | Jun 7 |
| Watermelon | Apr 24 | May 15–May 22 | 112 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 112 available after May 15. | Jun 2 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 24 | May 22–May 29 | 119 | fits: 55 days to maturity, 119 available after May 22. | Jul 11 |
| Zinnias | Apr 10 | May 8–May 22 | 133 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 133 available after May 8. | Jul 6 |
Month by month in Albany
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 13), Lavender (Feb 13), Onion (Feb 13), Rosemary (Feb 13), Celery (Feb 27), Collards (Feb 27), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 13), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 13), Cabbage (Mar 13), Lettuce (Mar 13), Sage (Mar 13), Swiss Chard (Mar 13), +6 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 13), Beets (Mar 13), Dill (Mar 13), Peas (Mar 13), Radish (Mar 13), Spinach (Mar 13), +1 more. |
| April | Start indoors: Basil (Apr 3), Tomato (Apr 3), Bok Choy (Apr 10), Corn (Apr 10), Cosmos (Apr 10), Nasturtiums (Apr 10), +11 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 10), Turnip (Apr 10), Carrots (Apr 17), Potatoes (Apr 24). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 10), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 10), Cabbage (Apr 10), Collards (Apr 10), Kale (Apr 10), Lettuce (Apr 10), +4 more. Plant: Strawberry (Apr 3). |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 8), Beans (May 15), Pole Beans (May 15). Transplant from: Bok Choy (May 1), Cauliflower (May 1), Cosmos (May 8), Lavender (May 8), Marigolds (May 8), Mint (May 8), +25 more. Last frost around May 8. Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (May 28), Celery (May 28), Melons (May 28), Spaghetti Squash (May 30). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Tomato (Jun 2), Watermelon (Jun 2), Pepper (Jun 7), Tomatillos (Jun 7), Eggplant (Jun 12), Corn (Jun 14), +1 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 1), Pole Beans (Jul 1), Basil (Jul 6), Cosmos (Jul 6), Cucumber (Jul 6), Zinnias (Jul 6), +12 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Beets (Aug 1), Dill (Aug 1), Swiss Chard (Aug 1), Calendula (Aug 6), Cilantro (Aug 6), Collards (Aug 10), +9 more. |
| September | First fall frost approaching (around October 2). Transplant fall brassicas. Sow spinach, arugula, and radishes. |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 2). First frost around October 2. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 23). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Albany, NY (ZIP 12208)?
The median last spring frost date for Albany, NY (ZIP code 12208) is around May 8. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 22; one in ten it runs past May 24.
What is the first fall frost date in Albany, NY?
The median first fall frost date for Albany, NY is around October 2. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 16 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Albany, NY?
The frost-free growing season in Albany is about 147 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Albany (147 frost-free days, a moderate season), 37 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 18 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Albany, NY?
Albany, NY is in USDA hardiness zone 6a (2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map). Zones come from the average coldest winter temperature, so they tell you which perennials survive the winter; the frost dates on this page tell you when to plant.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Albany, NY?
Start tomatoes indoors Apr 3 and plant out May 22 in Albany. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Albany?
Two: plant Apr 10 and again by Aug 11; both mature before Oct 9.
When do I plant garlic in Albany?
Oct 2 to Oct 23; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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